Teen on a mission to help out others

Ben Bray, 16, of Renton, is doing his part to make the world a better place through his work as a volunteer.

He participates in weekly nursing-home visitations and serves on the pastoral council at St. Anthony's Renton parish, where he also works at the after-school program every day.

Last August, he took part in a weeklong youth-group mission trip to build a home for a needy family in Tijuana, Mexico, and a few weeks ago he volunteered at the St. Vincent de Paul Apple Cup Blanket & Coat Drive at Husky Stadium.

This fall, Bray, who is home-schooled, began the Running Start program at Bellevue Community College, which allows him to earn credits for college while still in high school.

Q: How did you become interested in volunteering?

A: When I was 7, my dad was working at St. Vincent de Paul, and he asked us kids if we wanted to help with the Husky blanket and coat drive. I thought it would be really cool to be close to Husky Stadium, but when I got out there I realized how important what I was doing really was.

My dad taught me that you don't experience anything in life unless you go out and do it, and that has been the basis of a lot of my volunteering.

Q: What do you like about volunteering?

A: By going out and doing things, you get to meet a lot of different types of people that you wouldn't normally meet. It also gives me a sense of satisfaction. Some people get a good feeling when they do one good deed, but I don't really feel content. I feel like I need to do another and another. Maybe that is why I do so much volunteer work. I feel like I can always do more.

Q : Who are your role models in volunteering?

A: My dad because he always encouraged me to go out and do stuff until I was 11 or 12 and I started going out on my own. Also, Geri Warner from my church. She does all kinds of volunteering. That has been influential to me.

Q: What are your goals?

A: Through my volunteering, I've found that I really like working with kids. So my projection is to get my teaching degree and teach.

Q: What have been the biggest challenges you have faced in volunteering?

A: A lot of times in my volunteering, I do stuff that most other people wouldn't do, so I get a lot of weird looks and people sort of saying, "You did what?"

Q: What are your other hobbies?

A: I enjoy bike riding, video games, going to sports events, going to my local library and hanging out with my siblings. I am also part of the Junior Legion of Mary prayer group at my church.

Q: What do you hope to do when you're older?

A: I want to be a teacher, but I also want to do volunteer work on a larger scale.

Jordan Dawson: 253-234-8601 or jdawson@seattletimes.com